A last-minute free-kick from Mark Lawler earned Higher Bebington Kelma a 1-0 win as the Chester & Wirral League got back into full swing at the weekend.

Deva Athletic were the unfortunate side beaten by the last-gasp dead ball in the Queensferry Sports Premier Division.

Brothers Ryan and Liam Atherton kept Birkenhead Town on top as they won 2-0 at Ellesmere Port Town Reserves.

Lodge Bar (Illya Haycock, Joe Yates) stayed second thanks to a 2-1 win over Shaftesbury Youth (Ali Major).

Whitby Athletic (Steve Rothwell 2, James Atkins 2, James Shaw, Jamie Radson, Josh Wonderley) continued their climb up the table with a fifth successive win. Uberlube were their victims in a 7-1 drubbing.

Kelsall (Adam Crimes 3) made it two wins on the spin with a 3-2 success over Christleton Celtic.

Matt Hayes, Lee Reynolds, Mark Hughes, Jamie Whitlow (2), Dean Rattcliffe, Richie Tallis and Paul Gunderson all hit the net in Ashton’s 8-2 win over FC Blacon (Josh Taylor-Pogue 2) in Olympic Trophies Division One.

Blacon Thistle (Joe Henry 2, Tom George, James Henry, Luke Jones, Jordan Sharp) hit Neston Nomads Reserves for six to stay at the summit.

Second-placed Newton Athletic (Dan Christian, Marc Moorefield, Daniel Eaton) edged Chester Nomads 3rds 3-1.

Conner Bowman hit an eight-minute hat-trick for Franklyn’s in their 8-3 win over Cestrian Alex (Niall Peaker 2, Tom Richardson). Dave Swain bagged four and Ross Henderson was also on target.

Neston Town (Andrew Lewis) were crushed 5-1 by Woodchurch Athletic (James Atherton 2, Phil Hudson, JJ Harrison, Sonny Allinson).

Clubbies remain top of the CWFL Link Up Division Two despite being held to a goalless draw at Eastham Athletic.

MBNA are second after a fine 5-3 win over Samba (Niall Evans, Steve Finlay 2).

Daniel Green and Paul Rambaldi scored early on but Samba established a 3-2 lead.

But Green completed a superb hat-trick and Rambaldi made sure of the points.

Hoole Youth returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Ellesmere Port Town 3rds thanks to goals from Aaron Rowlands (2), Luke Chard and Jack Green.

Crossway enjoyed a 5-3 win over Ellesmere Port Spartans thanks to strikes from Paul Thomas (2), Phil Goff, Dave Madeley and Todd Davies.

Luke Cassidy and Adam Bagley were the scorers for New Ferry Rangers in their 2-2 draw with Hoole Rangers Reserves.

Mark Roberts blasted a treble and John Kearney got a double for Woodchurch Athletic Reserves in their 6-0 win at Orange Athletic.

Robbie Bassell got the other Woodchurch goal.

Wingmakers looking to bounce back

Andy Preece’s Airbus UK Broughton were brought back down to earth as two losses in three days ended a six-match unbeaten run.

The Wingmakers’ fine form came to an end by the seaside on Saturday, as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Llandudno.

There was worse to come for injury-hit Airbus as they were hammered 4-1 at home by Newtown on Tuesday night, a win which saw the Robins fly into second spot.

Preece remains upbeat, however, and is eyeing the home game against Port Talbot on Saturday (2.30pm) as the perfect opportunity for the Wingmakers to put a turbulent patch behind them.

The director of football said: “I’m disappointed because we’ve done really well in recent weeks. We’ve got a lot of key players missing and lads playing who shouldn’t be.

“As I’ve said before, we just need to dig in and get through a difficult period. It’s no good feeling sorry for ourselves, we start again on Saturday. Long-term I’m really optimistic, because when we have everyone back it’ll be like having four or five quality new players in the squad. We just have to try and stay in touch until then.”

After four defeats in their first nine games, Airbus are still only three points off second place.

Preece said: “The good thing is everyone is beating everyone. The league’s crazy at the moment and you can’t predict who’ll beat who, but it’s working out OK for us. The last two games have been disappointing, but you have to be realistic. With the injuries we’ve had I’ll take where we are.”

Helsby edged out

A clinical double from Dom Coddington helped propel Newton back to top spot as they edged Helsby 3-2 on the road.

Chris Jones was also on target as Newton re-established themselves as early favourites for the Carlsberg West Cheshire League’s Division One title.

Matty Johnson and Mike Thompson replied for Helsby, who have now suffered three defeats on home soil this season.

Upton AA’s stock continued to rise after they won for the second time in succession.

They hammered Mallaby 4-0 as Chris Melia (2), Lee Guirado and Steve Rowlands hit the net.

Blacon YC (Tom Bailey) slipped to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of third-placed challengers Cammell Laird 1907 (Ben Holmes 2, Paul Murphy, Ben Kearney).

Chester Nomads (Dan Farrell, Matty Carlin, Dale Harris) shared a thrilling 3-3 draw with Hale (Kev Foster, Phil Doran, Chris Smith).

A Josh Lyth double was supplemented by further efforts from Lee Ludgate and Ryan Stanyers as Ellesmere Port Town enjoyed a 4-0 victory at Bootle Reserves.

In the West Cheshire Shield a Nev Picton was a mere consolation for Ford Motors in their 3-1 reverse to Helsby Reserves.

Kevin Hughes blasted a brilliant hat-trick for the victors.

Andy Henry (2), Steve Millington, Matt Ingle and Jamie Randles chipped in with the goals as Upton AA Reserves beat Capenhurst Villa Reserves 5-3.

Brothers Mo and Callum Doyle, and Lewis Cooper, responded for Cape.

Dean double nets draw

Dean Millington bagged a brace to salvage a draw for AFC Bears Paw in the Chester Sunday League Concorde Trophies Section A on Sunday.

He opened the scoring, but Vicars Cross Dynamo’s surged into a 2-1 lead. Millington made it 2-2 from the penalty spot.

Leaders FC Blacon (Scott Chard 3, Adam Cheers, Sam Davies) made short work of Axis United (Tim Ashbrook, Mike Hill) and emerged as 5-2 winners.

St Theresa’s (Tom George, Aiden Parker, Ellis Moore) lost a 2-0 lead but grabbed a late winner in their 3-2 success at the expense of Custom House (Tom Thornley, Peter Bearcroft).

Dee Rangers (Craig Downes, Ryan Williams) surrendered a 2-0 lead in their 3-2 to defeat to Highfield Horses (Dan Barnes, Russ Dean, Craig Anderson).

Nathan Jones bagged a treble for AFC Saltney as they hammered Handbridge Red Bulls (Jordan Jones 2) 8-2. Liam McGovern (2), Tom Shone (2) and Callum Humphries were also on target.

In Section B, Chester Riley’s had Lewis Bradley to thank for their 1-0 victory over Waverton.

Dean Houston grabbed an 87th-minute winner for Upton Youth Centre as they pipped Mount (Lee Stephens 2, Adam Pugh 2) 5-4. Michael Bowl, Dean Ratcliff, Matthew Crank and Dean Houston also bagged for Upton.

Westminster moved into top spot with a 6-0 demolition of Tarvin Rex. Carl Ngiam, Rees Bridge, Jack Nixon, Corey Beaver (2) and Danny Page got the goals.

In the Bill Gresty Memorial Trophy, Tattenhall (Glen Coppack 2, Colin Mutete) progressed thanks to a 4-2 win at Holdi (Aiden Bowels, Luke Ellis).

Early exit from cup

Malpas were knocked out of the JB Parker Premier Division Challenge Cup on Saturday.

They suffered a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Whaley Bridge, and will now turn their attention to their trip to Crewe FC in the Premier League this weekend (Saturday, 3pm).

In League One of the Cheshire League, a Dave Sims strike earned Tarporley Vics a 1-1 draw with Poynton. They host Golborne Sports on Saturday (3pm).